All of us are accustomed to streaming our favorite music instead of downloading it on our devices. There are many online music streaming platforms, music players, and music streaming services that you can enjoy.
However, you can still download songs if you want to listen to music offline. It is always best to listen to some songs on your list offline; you never know you’re going somewhere that doesn’t have network access or Wi-Fi. #advice_to_stay_on_the_safer_side
iTunes is one of the most popular music players that come in-built with your Apple devices(iPhone, Macbook, iPad, etc.). We all want a reliable and simple music player all the time. iTunes is something you will probably love to have on your phone or computer.
But what about the iTunes subscription?
Yes, we are talking about an Apple Music subscription that lets you have many music options on your phone or laptop. Is it worth getting an iTunes subscription?
This article will be talking about everything you need to know about Apple Music and iTunes before subscribing to the premium plan. So let’s get into it.
What Is iTunes?
iTunes is a music player that lets you add, organize, play, and manage your music, songs, audios, etc., on your iPhone, Mac, iPad, Android phone, laptop, etc. We can say it is a jukebox player that lets you easily play your favorite numbers.
iTunes was designed by Apple. Therefore, it is a default music player in Apple devices. However, Windows users and Android users can download iTunes and enjoy it on their devices. iTunes was launched in 2001, and later on, Apple Music replaced it in 2019.
Now Apple Music is an all-in-one software in which users can download their favorite music, choose to stream online music, audios, etc. We will discuss Apple Music in a minute.
Difference Between iTunes and Apple Music
Although many people get confused between iTunes and Apple Music, both are very much different. iTunes was launched in 2001 as a music player(software), making music management, organizing tracks, and playing offline easier. You get access to millions of DRM-free songs. If you want to hear a song, video, audiobook, etc., but don’t have one, you can simply search it, pay for it, and download it on your device. However, Apple Music entered the market as an online music and audio streaming platform in 2015.
Both services are owned by Apple Inc. However, iTunes is software, but Apple Music is more like a streaming service. In 2019, Apple Inc. replaced iTunes with Apple Music, offering all of its inherent features as well as iTunes features. iTunes let you stream your songs and audio collection to your Apple devices or computer. However, you cannot do this with Apple Music until you don’t have subscribed.
The whole point differentiating the two is that iTunes is a software that is free to download from the app store, but the songs you download are not free. When you want to download a song, you will have to pay the price of that song. In contrast, Apple Music is a music streaming platform that offers a subscription to its members.
What Do You Get in iTunes?
As discussed earlier, iTunes is software free to download on your supported devices like Apple, Windows, etc. However, you might have to pay for downloading a song, audio, video, etc. iTunes also work as your online radio broadcaster, with online radio stations playing the most exciting music tracks –and that too 24/7.
As of now, Apple Music and iTunes are almost the same things. When you get your Apple device, it is inherently in there. However, you can choose to download one for your Windows.
What is included in the offerings of this service?
Here is a short description of what you get with your iTunes and Apple Music:
- Four distinct sections have a dedicated function for you.
- 24/7 availability of radio shows, music, live streaming, etc.
- Search and download your favorite audio tracks, songs, audiobooks, etc.
- Your own music library lets you organize your personal favorites in your Apple device and on iCloud music.
How Is Apple Music Different From Buying Music On The iTunes Store?
We have already discussed how Apple Music and iTunes store. If you’re still confused about how transactions on both platforms work, here is our take on it.
With iTunes, you can purchase a song anywhere between 99 cents to $1.29 each. On the other hand, Apple Music is a paid subscription per month. Once you’ve paid, you can listen to as many songs as you want without the need to buy them. However, as soon as you end your subscription, your access to over 30 million songs on Apple Music goes away.
Pricing Plans Of Apple Music
The most interesting fact about iTunes or Apple Music subscriptions is how they price the plans. You will find that their individual plans are quite similar to other competitors like Rdio, Rhapsody, Tidal, Google Play Music All Access, etc. However, the family plans of Apple Music are the most enticing feature of it.
There are four subscription plans available currently, and another plan is coming soon.
Student Plan
The perks in the student plan are the same as for the individual plan, but the pricing is very different. You can get a student plan for only $4.99 per month. Some of the highlights of the Student Plan are as follow:
- 90 million songs with over 30,000 expert-curated playlists
- Original shows, concerts, and exclusive content
- Available on all supported devices along with Apple devices
- Works with Type to Siri
- You can get your entire music library on any device, listen to it offline or online
- Download over 100,000 songs to your personal library
- Lyrics view
- Full catalog in lossless audio
- See what your friends are listening too
Individual Plan
The individual plan has the following features:
- 90 million songs with over 30,000 expert-curated playlists
- Original shows, concerts, and exclusive content
- Available on all supported devices along with Apple devices
- Works with Type to Siri
- You can get your entire music library on any device, listen to it offline or online
- Download over 100,000 songs to your personal library
- Lyrics view
- Full catalog in lossless audio
- See what your friends are listening too
The cost of an individual plan is around $9.99 per month.
Family Plan
This is the most enticing subscription plan of Apple Music. With the family plan, you can get a subscription for up to six people. Besides all the features of an individual plan, you get access for six people, and each member can create their own libraries. The subscription fee of Family Plan is $15 per month.
Here Apple has taken a leap over other competitors. For instance, Spotify adds $5 for every additional member. If you have a family of six, you will get Spotify for $35. On the other hand, Apple Music will remain the same at $15.
Voice
They’re soon launching a new service of voice, and this economic plan will cost you only $4.99 per month. Here are the features of Voice Plan:
- 90 million songs with over 30,000 expert-curated playlists
- Original shows, concerts, and exclusive content
- Available on all Apple devices
- Works with Type to Siri
- You can get your entire music library on any device, listen to it offline or online
Pros
Pros of Apple Music are as follow:
- The price and affordability of Apple Music are great as you get access to all features for $10 per month and a family plan for $15.
- A plethora of music with 90 million songs and 30,000 playlists curated by experts
- Offline listening is also available for you
- Students can also avail of the premium offer at a discounted price
- You get access to Beats 1, an exclusive 24/7 human-run global radio station broadcasting in 100 countries.
Cons
There are some downsides of Apple Music as well:
- There is no option for having an ad-free version of the service
- All downloaded songs are locked with Apple FairPlay Protection that can be annoying sometimes.
Final Verdict: Is iTunes Subscription Worth It?
Is an iTunes subscription worth it?
Yes, it is a booming and popular music streaming service that is an all-in-one platform. You can choose an iTunes subscription over all competitors without any comparison. If you want to have a sneak peek of what actually iTunes has, you can get the free trial offered by the platform.